"I don't think they think that at all frankly. What you have to understand is that Willie O'Dea himself had indicated to me he was considering his position in the light of developments and that he was anxious not to become the focus of attention and distract from the work of Government," he said.

Mr Cowen made a clear attempt to shift the blame away from the Green Party, whose leader John Gormley had told him that Mr O'Dea's position was untenable.

Backtrack

He denied he had been forced to backtrack on his previous vote of confidence in Mr O'Dea just 24 hours earlier.

Mr Cowen said Mr O'Dea had contacted his office to say he was available to do "whatever I felt was necessary in the circumstances" in the wake of his RTE 'News at One' interview.

"I wanted to give him time and space to do that, to consult with colleagues and to listen to what people had to say."

He said he had met Mr Gormley "later that evening" -- after Mr O'Dea's resignation offer.

When asked why he had not rejected Mr O'Dea's resignation offer, Mr Cowen said: "I felt the regrettable conclusion he came to was one I think I would subscribe to in the circumstance."